The upcoming iPad 3 has been a main topic for discussion recently after learning that Apple is set to present it at an event during the first week of March. While the rumor mill has been working overtime, a few reports were able to get hands-on with some actual iPad 3 parts, confirming recent speculations like higher resolution and an upgraded chip system.

The iPad 3 is expected to look very similar to the iPad 2, with the same 9.7-inch screen and shape. However, the iPad 3's higher resolution seems to be the hot topic related to the new device, setting it apart from its predecessor.

According to Mac Rumors, which managed to get its hands on an actual iPad 3 display, the rumors regarding the resolution are indeed true. It will offer a 2048x1536 display, compared to the iPad and iPad 2's 1024x768 displays. By placing the displays of an iPad 2 and iPad 3 under a microscope, Mac Rumors was able to highlights clusters of 4 pixels from the iPad 2 and clusters of 16 pixels from the iPad 3.

Mac Rumors was also able to obtain the iPad 3's logic board, which offered a pair of 16 GB flash memory chips from Hynix, an upgraded power management chip and an upgraded package on package system-on-a-chip.

With the iPad and iPhone carrying A4 chip systems and the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S carrying A5 chip systems, many expected the iPad 3 to obtain an upgraded A6. However, it has been discovered that the chip system for the iPad 3 is an upgraded chip called "A5X." Its data code shows that it was manufactured in November 2011.

In addition to a resolution and chip system upgrade, the iPad 3 will sport a camera with 8 megapixels, as rumored before. Apple Daily, a Chinese publication, published photos of a complete iPad 3, which showed a device that resembles how reports have described it.

The iPad 3 will also have 4G LTE connectivity, and run on Verizon and AT&T's LTE networks. It's currently unknown if Sprint or T-Mobile will sell the new iPad. An 8-inch iPad is also in the making.

The iPad 3 will make its big debut during the first week of March in San Francisco, California.